Pakistan condemns terrorist attack in India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Indian Punjab in which a total of 10 people including the attackers were killed after siege on a police station was brought to an end.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist incident in Gurdaspur, India, Monday, in which a number of precious lives have been lost. There are reports of others having suffered injuries. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families”, said Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah.

Reiterating Pakistan’s stance against terrorism, he said that Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and also expressed sympathies with the victims. “We extend heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the government and people of India and wish the wounded speedy and full recovery”, the spokesperson added. Reports say that four policemen including an SP rank officer and three civilians were killed after a 10-hour gun battle between the terrorists and the Indian security forces. All three terrorist were also reportedly killed in the gun battle.

The attackers are yet to be identified but the Indian media quoting Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh as having blamed Pakistan for the attack, warning the neighbouring country of “a befitting reply” “I can’t understand why time and again cross border terror incidents are taking place when we want good relations with our neighbour”, Singh told Indian state-run news agency. “We will not be the first to strike, but if we are hit, we will give a befitting reply”, he warned.

The incident takes place when prime ministers of the two countries recently agreed in Ufa on the sidelines of the SCO Summit to hold talks for resolving all issues and also announced that national security advisers of the two countries will meet to discuss the matters related to terrorism. However, sources said that the schedule of the meeting between Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is yet to be finalised, which is likely to take place next month in New Delhi.